Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2014: EPA's funding priority is to award grants that promote the development and implementation of watershed-based plans, focusing on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by nonpoint sources, which result in improved water quality in impaired waters. These watershed plans are a mechanism to coordinate monitoring and planning on a watershed basis and will build a foundation for effective implementation actions using federal and other funding. Nonpoint Source implementation projects include best management practice (BMP) installation for animal wastes, sediment, pesticide and fertilizer control, a variety of other structural and non-structural practices, watershed planning, monitoring, watershed coordinators, technology demonstration, and a variety of education/outreach programs, among others.

Types of Assistance (060):

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

Funds are provided to eligible applicants to carry out nonpoint source projects and programs pursuant to Section 319 of the Clean Water Act as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987. Requirements under Section 319(h) include: nonfederal matching funds of at least 40 percent of project cost (match is an overall grant requirement - the match requirement for an individual project may be waived and in-kind services may be used as match); maintenance of effort; grants may be used for financial assistance to individual persons in the case of demonstration projects only; annual reporting; and EPA determinations of adequate recipient progress before additional funding. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.

Eligibility Requirements (080)

Applicant Eligibility (081):

Eligible entities include States and qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia who have approved nonpoint source assessment and management plans. To be qualified, Tribes must have treatment in a manner similar to a state (TAS) status for the 319 Program. Grants to States are awarded by formula. The State allotment is awarded to the agency in each State designated by the chief executive as the lead nonpoint source agency. The lead nonpoint source agency may distribute grant funds to other organizations in accordance with its work program, which is approved by EPA. Eligible Tribes are allocated a base allotment by formula; the remaining Tribal portion of the 319(h) appropriation is competed among qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

State and local governments; interstate and intrastate agencies; federally recognized Indian tribal governments; intertribal consortia; the following US territory or possessions: the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands; public and private nonprofit organizations and institutions. The lead nonpoint source agency may distribute grant funds to other organizations in accordance with a work program which is approved by EPA.

Credentials/Documentation (083):

The provisions of OMB Circular No. A-87 "Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments" apply. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Preapplication coordination with the appropriate EPA Regional Office, listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, is recommended. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures (092):

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Grant applications by States must be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Office (refer to Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of Regional Offices). Grant applications by subgrantees within a State (after EPA has made a grant award to the State) must be submitted to the State agency that administers Section 319 grants. The list of State nonpoint source contacts for subgrantees is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/where.cfm. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure (093):

Grant applications must be submitted by the State to the appropriate EPA Regional Office to determine the overall adequacy of the application to meet the statutory objectives. Funds are awarded to States by formula. Award procedure by States to subgrantees varies by State. The list of State nonpoint source contacts is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/where.cfm. Eligible Tribes receive funding for a base grant work plan; Tribes may also compete for the rest of the tribal portion of the total 319(h) appropriation. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

Deadlines (094):

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):

EPA generally awards grants to States within 60 days after the application is submitted.

Appeals (096):

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.

Renewals (097):

Not Applicable.

Assistance Consideration (100)

Formula and Matching Requirements (101):

Statutory Formula: Title Clean Water Act.
Matching Requirements: Nonfederal match of at least 40 percent of project or program costs is required except for grants to Indian Tribes, where following demonstration of financial hardship, the nonfederal match may be reduced to as low as 10 percent of project or program costs. States must also meet maintenance of effort requirements contained in statute. EPA awards grants to all eligible States and Tribes which apply for funding based on an allocation formula that the Agency developed. The allocation formula is described in the revised grant guidelines issued on April 12, 2013 and found at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/cwact.cfm. Note, the NPS Program and Grant Guidelines issued in 2003 applied to the FY 13 grants, while the revised guidelines apply to FY 14 and beyond. The allocation formula has not changed. Tribal base grant guidelines and annual Request for Proposals (RFP) are found at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/tribal/.
This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):

As determined in accordance with Section 319 (h). See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.

Post Assistance Requirements (110)

Reports (111):

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require interim and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports. Progress reports are generally required at least semi-annually. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. Progress reports are required under this program. Expenditure reports are required under this program. Performance monitoring is required under this program.

Audits (112):

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year.

Records (113):

Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be kept for three years from date of submission of the annual federal financial report. If questions remain, records must be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

States/Territories: $422,000 to $8,361,000; $2,795,000. Indian Tribes: base grants $30,000 to $50,000; competitive grants up to $100,000. Ranges vary year-to-year based on size of appropriation (and also varies depending on number of applicants for grants to Indian Tribes or intertribal consortia).

Program Accomplishments (130):

Fiscal Year 2013: Grants are awarded annually to all States and selected Tribes. Grant funds were used by States and Tribes to implement portions of their NPS management programs. In FY 13, 56 grant awards were made to states and territories. Additional information regarding selected projects is available in Section 319 Success Stories, available online at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/. An estimate of load reductions resulting from CWA Section 319(h) funded projects from the time period February 2013 - February 2014 is as follows: nitrogen - 10.43 million pounds; phosphorus - 3.46 million pounds; and sediment - 1,169,297 tons. These load reduction totals are mostly from FY 13 grant funded projects. Fiscal Year 2014: Grants are awarded annually to all States and selected Tribes. Grant funds are used by States and Tribes to implement portions of their NPS management programs. Additional information regarding selected projects is available in Section 319 Success Stories, available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/. Data for FY 14 funded projects are not available at this time. Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature (140):

Operational grant guidelines for FY 2013 Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories (Oct. 23, 2003). The guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2003/October/Day-23/w26755.htm. The revised guidelines published on April 12, 2013 apply for FY 14 and beyond. Tribal grant information is posted at http://www.epa.gov/nps/tribal.

Information Contacts (150)

Regional or Local Office (151) :

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. A list of specific EPA Regional nonpoint source contacts is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/upload/reg-nps-coord.pdf. The list of specific EPA Tribal nonpoint source contacts is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/tribal/.

66.419 Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support

Examples of Funded Projects (170):

Fiscal Year 2013: Nonpoint Source implementation projects funded include BMP installation for animal wastes, sediment, pesticide and fertilizer control, urban runoff, and a variety of other structural and non-structural practices; watershed planning, monitoring, watershed coordinators, technology demonstration, and a variety of education/outreach programs, among others. Fiscal Year 2014: Nonpoint Source implementation projects funded include BMP installation for animal wastes, sediment, pesticide and fertilizer control, urban runoff, and a variety of other structural and non-structural practices; watershed planning, monitoring, watershed coordinators, technology demonstration, and a variety of education/outreach programs, among others. Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Funds are awarded to States in accordance with Section 319 (h). For selection processes within individual States, contact the appropriate State nonpoint source coordinators. A list of these coordinators is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/upload/state_nps_coord.pdf.

Contact Information

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. A list of specific EPA Regional nonpoint source contacts is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/upload/reg-nps-coord.pdf. The list of specific EPA Tribal nonpoint source contacts is available at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/tribal/.